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In Japan, manhole covers are more than just lids for sewers. They’re also seen as artworks. For more than 45 years, since the appearance of the first designer manhole cover, many cities in Japan have special designs on their manhole covers, showing local landmarks or cultural symbols, as de Osaka Castle in Osaka city or the Mount Fuji in Fuji city.
These covers make the streets look nicer and have attracted the interest of tourists. They often look for specific designs as souvenirs or to remember their trip. Some people even collect photos of unique manhole covers, or manhole cards that you can get in specific locations. There are guidebooks and online groups for people who enjoy finding and sharing these cool designs from all over Japan.
The popularity of these manhole designed covers has highly increased in recent years among locals and tourists alike with Japan taking the next level by incorporating popular culture, such as Hello Kitty, Pokémon, or other famous characters into their designs. Specially Pokémon-themed manhole covers can be found in various cities across Japan, each featuring beloved characters from the iconic franchise. These covers add fun and charm to the streets, drawing fans of the franchise to different cities. They also promote local pride and often tie into wider tourism initiatives, showcasing Japan’s unique blend of traditional and pop culture.
Since March 2024, the variety of designs has increased with a new collection in Tokyo, based on one of the most popular and beloved shojo anime of all time, Sailor Moon. A total of 5 new designs have been installed in the original neighborhood of Bunny and her friends, Azabu Juban in Minato Ward. Let’s discover more about these designs and the locations of these unique manhole covers in this article!
Sailor Moon Design Manhole Covers at Minato Ward
From March 1st, 2024, Minato Ward in Tokyo has installed design manhole covers at five strategic locations within the ward, using its celebrated connection with the beloved global franchise Sailor Moon. This initiative aims to elevate the streets into vibrant tourist destinations.
Minato Ward serves as one of the main settings for Sailor Moon. Various spots within the ward appear throughout the series, showcasing locations where the protagonist, Usagi Tsukino (Sailor Moon), and her friends lead their daily lives. These spots include the area around Azabu-Juban where they reside, as well as iconic landmarks such as Tokyo Tower and Shiba Park, among others.
Complementary maps and souvenirs will accompany the Sailor Moon design manhole covers, appealing to both local and international tourists, including devoted fans of the franchise and enthusiasts of decorative manhole covers. These initiatives encourage visitors to explore and experience the charm of these locations firsthand.
① Sailor Moon & Tuxedo Mask
Location: Azabu-Juban Shopping Street Entrance (2-1 Azabu-Juban)
② Sailor 5 Warriors (Blue)
Location: Near Shiba Park (in front of Minato Library) (3-2-25 Shiba Park)
③ Usagi & Ami & Rei & Makoto & Minako
Location: In front of Toyo Eiwa Jogakuin Elementary School & Kindergarten (5-6-14 Roppongi)
④ Sailor 5 Warriors (Fresh Green)
Location: Near Tokyo Tower (In front of Shiba Water Supply Facility) (3-6-7 Shiba Park)
⑤ Sailor 5 Warriors (Lemon Yellow)
Location: Entrance of Keio-naka-dori Shopping Street (5-20 Shiba)
Minato Ward is pioneering Sailor Moon design manhole covers on a national scale. They invite tourists and locals to discover the ward’s charm, marvel at these unique covers, and visit Sailor Moon’s associated sites.
Sailor Moon & Tuxedo Mask
Location: Azabu-Juban Shopping Street Entrance (2-1 Azabu-Juban)
Origin: The Azabu-Juban Shopping Street entrance is where Usagi Tsukino (Sailor Moon) and Mamoru Chiba (Tuxedo Mask) met each other. During the series, the signboard at this entrance was also shown. Additionally, since Usagi and her friends live nearby, many places related to the series can be found in the Azabu-Juban shopping street, including shops from the series and places frequented by the author, Naoko Takeuchi, at the time.
Sailor 5 Warriors (Blue)
Location: Near Shiba Park (in front of Minato Library) (3-2-25 Shiba Park)
Origin: Minako Aino, known as Sailor Venus, goes to Shiba Koen Middle School, which is situated close to Shiba Park. Interestingly, this particular manhole cover showcases a background color in blue, which symbolizes Sailor Mercury’s theme color.
Usagi & Ami & Rei & Makoto & Minako
Location: In front of Toyo Eiwa Jogakuin Elementary School & Kindergarten (5-6-14 Roppongi)
Origin: Toyo Eiwa Jogakuin is believed to be the school that inspired the setting for “T·A Girls’ Academy” attended by Rei Hino, also known as Sailor Mars. Not a coincidence, the background color of this particular manhole cover is red, symbolizing Sailor Mars’ theme color.
Sailor 5 Warriors (Fresh Green)
Location: Near Tokyo Tower (In front of Shiba Water Supply Facility) (3-6-7 Shiba Park)
Origin: Tokyo Tower, a symbol of Minato Ward, also appears in various scenes throughout the series. It is depicted as part of the landscape at times and serves as a battleground on occasion. The background color for this manhole is green, representing Sailor Jupiter’s theme color.
Sailor 5 Warriors (Lemon Yellow)
Location: Entrance of Keio-naka-dori Shopping Street (5-20 Shiba)
Origin: Minako Aino (Sailor Venus), appeared near the entrance of Keio-naka-dori Shopping Street. She was the protagonist of Naoko Takeuchi’s work Codename: Sailor V, which was serialized before Sailor Moon. In honor, this manhole cover showcases a background color in yellow, symbolizing Sailor Venus’ theme color.
Kindly note that installation is currently underway and it may not have been completed. For further details on the installation schedule and more, please check the oficial website, as updates will be posted regularly.
For more information, check the oficial website (Japanese available only): https://www.city.minato.tokyo.jp/citypromotion/manhole.html
Excited!? If you are planning a trip to Tokyo, and you are an anime lover, or just want to enjoy the city, these other articles have interesting places for you too!
Written by
From Barcelona to Tokyo. Coffee & Adventure lover🌏☕️
I started to like Japan because of the anime, music and doramas, but after my first trip to the country I found what I love the most: traveling around, the culture and history. I have travelled a lot in Japan, but I still have many places to discover that I want to share with you🙋🏼♀️ Let’s discover Japan together!
Also, as a foreigner living in Japan for over 6 years I understand what kind of things are difficult when you move here and I want to help other people in the same situation that I have in the past.
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